Dr. Amit Purushottam carcs.in 6299893489

1. carcs.in(copyright protected)

2. Research and Technical Communication
Academic Writing
&
Errors
Dr.Amit Purushottam
Carcs.in(6299893489)

3. FEATURES OF ACADEMIC WRITING AT FIRST
SIGHT
1. The use of sources
2. Quotations
3. vocabulary characteristic of a specific field
4. Formal language and format
a. Cautious use of Vocabulary
b. impersonal
c. Passive
d. Logical Structures / clear Layout
e. absence of features of spoken language
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4. Academic writing is:
 Formal (impersonal, no slang, formal sentence structure)
 Reasoned (critical thinking: how and why)
 Impartial (gives a balanced point of view, more than one
point of view)
 Logical (ideas flow logically from one to another:
signposts, topic sentences and linked paragraphs)
 Structured (keeps to the structure of an essay, report etc)
 Supported (evidence and examples, referencing)
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5. • Formality
This Piece Of Writing The Present Study (=This Study)
My essay will Make It Clear The Present Paper Will
Clarify
• Impersonality
Many Of My Friends And Colleagues Say That… It Is
Commonly Said That…
I, You, My Friend Dave The Present Study/Author,
One, Professor Robertson/Robertson (1992)
Some Elaboration Of The Matter Of Facts
Of Academic Writing:
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6. • Precision
pets like cats, dogs, etc. pets, such as cats and dogs,
around half of the group approximately 53% of the group
• Caution
Our study proves that This study shows that
I’m sure this is so. There is reason to believe that this is
so.
We really couldn’t make anything of the results. There
were difficulties in analyzing the results.
•Objectivity
I think that this idea sucks. This idea may not be
accurate.
In my opinion this is a wonderful topic. This topic is
worth investigating because….
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7. Academic Writing And Critical Thinking
• Assessment of the relationship
between claims and the
evidence given to support
them
• Exercising judgement in order
to interpret and evaluate
arguments and evidence
• Questioning taken for granted
assumptions
• Involves both openness to new
ideas and appropriate
scepticism
PRACTICAL ASPECTS:
• What is really important
here?
• How does it relate to what I
know already?
• What standpoint does the
writer have?
• Are there any weaknesses in
the argument that is being
put forward?
• What other opinions are
there on this topic?
• Do I agree or disagree with
the writer?
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8. Bad Habits to Avoid in Academic
Writing
• Second person “you”
• Inconsistent person
• Inconsistent tense
• Abbreviations
• Do not use: ya, thru, wanna, gonna
• Do not use: etc., &
• Avoid ending verbs with “en” or “in” instead
of “ing”: waitin, watchen
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9. Some writing pitfalls to avoid
1.Avoid addressing the reader directly or
using questions
• For example: “Does this mean that some strategies are
better than others?”
2. Use formal – impersonal passive voice
• When i used the solution, i see the level rising > when
the solution was used, the level was seen rising
a) Passive voice without ‘By’
b) No use of i, we, our, you
c) instruments use – no ‘by’ ; but ‘with’ (with hammer)
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10. 3. TRY NOT TO MAKE GENERALIZATIONS.
For example:
"Everyone agrees that cold calling does
not produce results".
While this may be true you can only make
such statements if supported with
evidence.
Instead:
• "According to the Mori Report (2000), cold
calling does not produce results.
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11. 4. OVERLY-LONG SENTENCES
• A sentence should express only one idea or a
clearly connected set of ideas.
• Home care has been expanding tremendously over the
past few years partly due to recent technological
advances that enable assessments and treatments to be
a part of the home setting which at one time could only
be performed within the hospital environment. - X
• Home care has expanded tremendously over the past
few years. This increase is partly due to recent
technological advances that now make more
assessments and treatments possible in the home
rather than only in the hospital. - OK
.
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12. 5. WORDINESS - use the minimum
number of words.
• Check your writing to make sure you don’t have
unnecessary words or phrases.
You may often find that there are a number of Words
contained in your writing that can be safely eliminated
without any kind of danger to your meaning whatsoever. X
You may often find that there are a number of words
contained in your writing that can be safely eliminated
without any kind of danger to your meaning whatsoever.
(Beer & McMurrey 34)
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13. MORE
• Basically, industrial productivity generally
relies on particular factors that are actually
more psychological in kind than of any given
technological type. - X
• Industrial productivity depends more on
psychological than on technological factors. -
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14. 6. Be careful not to use redundant phrases
For example:
• Alternative choices – alternatives
• Actual experience - experience
• ‘Various differences” (Various implies difference so you
do not need both words)
• The whole entire world (Same as above)
• A round circle
• Refer back
• An eyewitness present at the scene
• The whole entire world
7. Avoid starting sentences with linking words
• Such as but, and or yet.
• for, and, nor, but, or, yet, socarcs.in(copyright protected)

15. 8. AVOID THERE IS & THERE ARE
 These expressions (the existential
construction) can be rhetorically effective for
emphasis in some situations, but they are also
often unnecessary in academic contexts.
WHERE TO AVOID (NOT EVERYWHERE)
The most common kind of unnecessary
existential construction involves an existential
phrase followed by a noun and a relative clause
beginning with that, which, or who. A more
concise sentence can often be created by
eliminating the existential opening, making the
noun the subject of the sentence, and eliminating
the relative pronouncarcs.in(copyright protected)

16. A. It is the president who signs or vetoes laws.
There are four criteria that should be considered: ...
> the president signs or vetoes bills.
Four criteria should be considered:...
B. There was uncertainty about the reasons for the
financial problems.
> The reasons for the financial problems were
uncertain
EXAMPLES.
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17. 9. Must Avoid expressions like these…
(never used in academic writing)
kind of
sort of
type of
really
basically
quite simple
very good sample
one important thing
definitely
actually
generally
individual
specific
particularly
OK / Okay
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18. More ………….
• There are no such words as: theirself,
hisself, alright. Write themselves, himself,
all right.
• Do not capitalize subjects like biology,
math, science, history.
• Use the word “finish” instead of “done”
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19. 10.Avoid colloquial for formal
(common use - selected)
COLLOQUIAL FORMAL
Ask for Request
Find out Discover
Deal with Handle
Checked out Investigated/ studied
Put up with Tolerated
Kids children
OK All right/ acceptable
A lot Many / much
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20. 11. Other Mechanical Rules
• Numbers – Never begin a sentence with
a number.(Spell it out.)
• All numbers below 100 should be
spelled out. Those above 100 are
optional but should be consistent.
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21. FINAL CAUTIONS
• Do not write the way you speak.
• Do not use slang.
• Do not expect your reader to know what you
mean.
• Do not write in fragments.
• Use complete sentences.
• Always use Standard Written English
(SWE)
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22. Thank You
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